Implements and Artefacts of the North-east Greenlanders. 4/7 



Eine Maschine von zvvei Kreudtzvveis iibereinander gehende 

 Holtzer etwas krum gebogen: welches die Grunlander auff ihre kleine 

 Bothe im Fischen vor sich setzen; darauff ihre Lantzen undt Har- 

 punen legen ; Und auff die daran sitzende spitzige Knochen oder 

 Zahne die Gefangene Fische und Vogel hangen. 



Diese Drey Stiicke sint, wie der Voigt auff Islandt CORNELIUS 

 WULF berichtet hat: von der See aufT getrieben, in Guldbringe Sysel, 

 und Western in lissefiords Syssel gefunden \vorden". 



Unfortunately, in the next general catalogue of the museum (1737), 

 the Greenland section is so briefly dealt with, that it is impossible 

 to see whether these three objects are still preserved among the old 

 Greenland items in the National Museum. It is therefore fortunate 

 that the description in the earlier list is of so detailed a nature as 

 to leave no doubt regarding the objects themselves. The two first 

 are a kayak paddle and a bird dart respectively; the third is a "kayak 

 stool" a receptacle for holding the harpoon line, the stool being of 

 the cross-shaped type, which has remained in use at Angmagsalik 

 down to our times. 1 For the statement as to its being employed to 

 hang fish on, the authority quoted must be held responsible; he is 

 however, correct as regards its place in the kayak, and the fact 

 that the harpoon is placed upon it. 



Now the two first-named implements are of widespread occur- 

 rence; the third, however, is typical for Greenland, albeit not re- 

 stricted to the eastern part, as this form was, in earlier times, also 

 employed on the West Coast. 2 The form of the objects, then, gives 

 us no nearer determination of locality than Greenland, but the 

 area of possible origin becomes more restricted when we begin 

 to consider from what parts of Greenland they could have been car- 

 ried by the current to the west coast of Iceland; Isafjordssyssel and 

 Guldbringasyssel form respectively the north-west and south-west 

 corners of the island. 



The Arctic Current flows, as we know, in a southerly direction 

 down along the coast of North-east Greenland. One branch follows 

 the coast farther on through Danmark Strait and curves round the 

 southern point of the land up northward along the west coast. An- 

 other bends eastwards along the north and east coasts of Iceland, 

 where it meets the so-called Irminger Current, which, owing to its 

 higher temperature, here becomes the surface current. The Irminger 

 Current then follows the south coast of Iceland to the westward, 

 and curves up along the west coast of the island. 



1 Cf. THALBITZER II, p. 388, Fig. 92 b. 



2 E. g. a specimen preserved in the National Museum, found in a grave at Kardluk 

 in Waigattet, about 70 N. lat. (L. b. 294). 





